Mrs. Apple Cider, New York/CharlotteAge and Occupation: 27, Corporate Communications ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Grad Student – Clinical Mental Health Engagement Date: September 13, 2008Wedding Date: October 2009Venue: Banner Elk Winery & Blueberry VillaAbout Me: I am a North Carolina girl with a New York City spirit. I love crafting, blogging, laughing and dreaming. I know every word to the Anne of Green Gables and Little Women movies. I own every single Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine and have been dreaming of weddings since I was little. I believe life is about doing what makes you happy. If you aren't happy re-evaluate what you are doing. You should never look back on your life and not be proud of what you are doing. If you want to travel - travel. If you want to sing - sing. If you want to start a company - start a company. If you want to blog – blog!
When I visited West Virginia a few weeks ago for my wedding shower, my FMIL took me to Craft 2000 (a craft store in WV) and I proceeded to go down every single aisle looking for inspiration. In the “wood” section I came across these great arrow signs and had to buy them. They were marked as $9.99, which I thought was an OK price. It wasn’t GREAT, but it was OK. To my excitement, when we got to the register they were on sale and were only $1.29.
Mr. AC decided to make this project his. I printed out the word “wedding” in Albemarle Swash font and let him go at it. He wanted to add in our “birds” and I think it turned out really nice. Read more…
Mrs. Lightning, Cape Town Age and Occupation: 22, Journalist and Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer ScientistEngagement Date: December 27, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Hout Bay ManorAbout Me: I'm a young American living abroad in the beautiful city of Cape Town with a wonderful South African fiance and our crazy kitty Zeus. We're young, driven and madly in love. Together we're pursuing our wildest dreams including our biggest undertaking yet, a vintage retrospective wedding filled to the brim with DIY madness. I have an unnatural attraction to cake, a passion for blogging and a love of good design. While I might be an overly obsessive creative with too many ideas and nowhere to put them, Mr Lightning is my biggest fan and I can't wait to make my true love mine.
With Edith Piaf serenading in the background my lovely ladies recently gathered to “help me pass the time and shorten the wait” complete with oh-so-lovely macarons, chocolate cake, and of course, a never ending supply of pink bubbly.
Mrs. Peony, New YorkAge and Occupation: 27, Marketing CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, QA EngineerEngagement Date: June 28, 2007Wedding Date: April 18, 2008Venue: The FountainheadBlogging Since: August 7, 2007About Me: Both Mr. Peony and I are huge computer nerds, and our conversations usually consist of the latest gadgets, programming languages, and video games. At the same time, I can also be very girly with an obsession with handbags, makeup, and high heels. And art! I've studied studio art extensively, almost majored in art history, and freelance as a web and graphics designer. Mr. Peony and I are having a ball of a time planning a wedding for 250(!) guests, doing our best to infuse our personalities (geeky chic) with the wishes of our very traditional Asian parents.
Where were we? Oh, yes, the limo. (All photos by Danny Weiss.)
About half of the bridal party dozed off on our way from Manhattan to Westchester. I didn’t find out until after the wedding that the boys had held a party the night before in their hotel suite, staying up until 4AM. They had finished off numerous bottles of whiskey (save for one, more on that later ), vodka, and wine… the hotel security came up twice to ask them to quiet down! I knew something was up when they all refused the complimentary champagne in the limo - they were all hungover! Read more…
Mrs. Mascara, Chicago/Upper MichiganAge and Occupation: 25, Biomedical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Process EngineerEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Catholic ceremony, reception at local armoryAbout Me: A lover of Mr. Mascara, crafting, baking, Gossip Girl, diet soda, and all things wedding. A Yooper girl somehow displaced in the Chicago suburbs, planning a wedding from a distance, and counting down the days until I marry my best friend.
Please forgive me for all the DIY posts lately. Honestly it’s all I’ve been doing the past few weeks! Here’s a project that anyone can do… it’s super simple! So easy in fact, I’m not sure it requires pictures. But I took some for you anyway!
I’m not sure where I first found them, but for a long time now I’ve wanted to use canvas bags to fill with goodies for our out-of-town guests. I always seem to be an OOT guest at weddings, and it is so nice to have some snacks already in the hotel room when you are tired and hungry after a long drive. Our guests will find these cuties filled with treats in their rooms!
Miss Dew Drop, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 31, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Managerial Type at an Internet CompanyEngagement Date: December 12, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Ralston Hall MansionAbout Me: I'm a food-and-baking-obsessed, occasionally sword wielding Bay Area native who is quickly becoming overwhelmed with planning a wedding and opening a law practice at the same time. (Brilliant move, that one.) I love reading, online shopping, ice cream, my Macbook, Bollywood movies, hoodies, the UCLA Bruins, and of course, Mr. Dew Drop.
So, yes, my sister went into labor five weeks early. Three days after my birthday, in fact.
The good news was that my sister and her twins were all fine. And, yes, a new niece and nephew is really the best birthday present ever. My sister is going to have an awfully hard time shopping for me next year…
The bad news was that my mom left immediately for Connecticut and planned to be there for six weeks or so. But since I had already stalled for as long as possible, I couldn’t really wait another six weeks to order my dress.
So I did what any good attorney would do. I immediately hit the books. And by books, I mean the internet. I couldn’t help it. My name is Miss Dew Drop, and I am a research-aholic.
Keeping my favorite dress, the Blue by Enzoani Brighton, in mind, I started searching for pictures of similar dresses online. The more I looked, the more I realized I was looking for something exactly like it. Something with a mermaid silhouette, lace, a little bit of sparkle, and straps. Something a little out of the ordinary.
For reference, here’s the dress again on (a makeup-less) me: Read more…
Mrs. Shortcake, VancouverAge and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit WriterFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal TrainerEngagement Date: August 7, 2007Wedding Date: October 2008Blogging Since: Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country clubAbout Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
NOTE: As usual, my recap photos are from a variety of sources. All post-processing has been done by me with each individual’s consent and permission.
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NOTE: Some readers have expressed their disappointment in how glum some of my posts are. As a blogger, I am trying to accurately tell the story of my wedding. Not everything was perfect, and many things went wrong. However, as in any good story, a happy ending is happiest when it comes after a plot crisis. And, in the words of G.K. Chesterton,
“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
Take my posts as an example of what things can and do happen at weddings, but take it also to heart that is possible to have everything go wrong - and still remember your wedding day as one of the greatest days of your life.
Mrs. Bruschetta, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 25, Communication ProfessionalFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Physical Therapy Graduate StudentEngagement Date: November 30, 2007Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: St. Thomas of Villanova Church & the F.U.E.L. HouseAbout Me: I’m a self-proclaimed grammar geek who loves singing (like, really belting it) in the car. My mister and I are planning a vibrant summer soiree celebrating our passions – including food and Philly – and when we make it official, we’ll have been together for eight years! Being super competitive is in my nature, and talking excessively is in my genes. I’ve got a terrible sense of direction, but can always easily find my way into Mr. Bruschetta’s arms.
Traditional chocolate turtles, or turtle-inspired fudge? Both sounded delicious, but would cost more than we were willing to spend. Immediately, I liked the idea of sweets from the shore, though, which would “fit” with our late summer wedding, as well as our charity donation to benefit the coastal-dwelling diamondback terrapins.
Next, I thought of caramel corn. Does a gourmet popcorn flavor exist that blends caramel with chocolate and pecans? Within a few short days, I was practically a gourmet popcorn pro, having Googledmywaytoanumberofcompanies with favor-worthy products.
Mrs. Mouse, AustinAge and Occupation: 25, Weddingbee Editor/AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Civil EngineerEngagement Date: December 19, 2007Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Barr MansionAbout Me: I just graduated from law school and will be taking the bar, getting married, going on a honeymoon with my guy, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I was born and raised in a small East Texas town, but I'm no country girl! I'm obsessed with British accents, fantasy (including Harry Potter, of course), and classic rock. My fiance and I consider ourselves both music and beer snobs--but every once in awhile we love to hear a crappy band and drink a cheap brew or two. We're planning an eco-friendly, casual, English garden affair for the end of summer, and we can't wait for it to get here!
Because I like the boho, layered look, I still want at least one more necklace to wear with this one. Here’s a picture of the necklace on a model, so you can get an idea of the length. Read more…
Mrs. Beagle, AustinAge and Occupation: 26, Electrical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, FinanceEngagement Date: July 12, 2008Wedding Date: October 2009Venue: Church Ceremony/Reception at The Waterford HouseAbout Me: I am a true, but rare, Austinite---I was born, raised, and continue to live in this great city! Although
I am an engineer by day, I feed my inner creative side through crafting, sewing, and obsessing over Martha Stewart. I love coffee, my mister, NPR, and exploring all the nooks and crannies of Austin.
I can't wait to share my adventures in DIY and wedding planning with all of you!
Mrs. Cloud, RichmondAge and Occupation: 25, Sales RepFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Customer Service Manager/DJEngagement Date: February 14, 2008Wedding Date: November 2009Venue: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart & The Jefferson HotelAbout Me: Mr. Cloud and I are Yankees planning a Southern wedding to show our families from Boston and New York our fabulous city. We are complete opposites, resulting in a wedding to include bridesmaids in pearls and groomsmen in Adidas shell toes. I’m a sorority girl at heart with strong addictions to my blackberry, cherry Chapstick, Coach purses, the Boston Red Sox and our fur baby, Bella. I can’t wait to the throw the party of our lives and of course, marry my best friend!
I recently have been stuck on the things that will be my “lasts” before I become a Mrs. It all started in July when I celebrated my 25th birthday, and for some reason it hit me that it was my very last birthday as a single gal. I got the oil changed on my car yesterday and again couldn’t help thinking it would be the last time I would be at that particular place signing my maiden name for their service.
It doesn’t stop there. I mentioned my love for pajamas when I first became a bee. One of the reasons I chose to be Miss Cloud is because of my absolute favorite Nick & Noras! I don’t know how or why, but I got it in my head that I needed a special pair of last “Miss Pajamas”. I will be staying in a hotel the night before the wedding with my MOH, so of course, I needed something cute for our little slumber party. In full support of my craziness, Mama Cloud came through at my last bridal shower with these beauties; bonus, because they are Nick & Nora!
Mrs. Chick, HoustonAge and Occupation: 28, Rights and Reproduction ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Computer ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 15, 2008Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: A farm outside of HoustonAbout Me: Mr. Chick and I met almost ten years ago at Baker Blues, a college jazz party. He was attracted to my intensity, and I was mesmerized by his trivia pursuit skills and his dorm furniture adorned with his initials. We've grown more sophisticated through the years, with our love of wine, owning a house together, and parenthood (of a cat), but we have not lost our silliness or childish sense of humor!
Click here for instructions and full article. Read more…
Mrs. Peep Toe, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, Policy AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production ManagerEngagement Date: December 16, 2007Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: November 26, 2008Venue: Hotel VitaleAbout Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
The morning after the Rehearsal Dinner, I woke up early and thought to myself, ‘Game. On.’
It’s FINALLY our wedding day!! Wootwoot!!
To my bridesmaids’ chagrin, right around 6:30AM, I declared the day officially started and jumped out of bed. Sensing my nervous energy (really, I wasn’t hiding it), Sister Peep suggested a trip for coffee and treats at the Ferry Building’s Saturday Farmers’ Market.
Seeing as that is one of my absolute favorite things to do, I bounded out of the hotel with her to pick up some amazingly appetizing treats. For the first (and most likely last) time in my life, we were at the Farmers Market before the stands even opened. I loved doing one of my favorite things, in my favorite city, and watching everything come alive. A perfect way to start an unforgettable day.
So, my love for the Ferry Building’s Farmers’ Market and San Francisco is not really what this post is about, but I had to provide you with a sense of how I started my wedding day. And even Anthony Bourdain loved the farmers market,so I’m just sayin’- it’s awesome.
Back to the wedding day—at the much more reasonable time of 10AM—when the Peep Gang headed to OxenRose to get our hair and makeup styled and profiled.
I hope my ladies don’t hate me, but here we are starting the day, sans makeup and hair: Read more…
Sabrina & Eunice Moyle, San Francisco, CAVendor: Invitations & StationeryWebsite: Hello! LuckyAbout Me: We (sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle) started Hello!Lucky in 2003 out of Eunice's garage with a hand-cranked Vandercook printing press. Since then we've created whimsical stationery and greeting card designs for almost every occasion, including wedding invitations, save the dates, thank you notes, and a line of hilarious sock monkey cards! We love crafting, flea marketing, fashion, travel, and all things paper. We're based San Francisco with a studio in London, so we're immersed in design trends from around the world!
We are loving Hollin and Eric’s beautiful wedding, full of sweet details and DIY elements. Hollin, along with some helpful friends and family, created most of the decorations, and it all turned out so vintage chic!
Thanks to the very talented Ben Blood for sharing his gorgeous photos of their wedding at Treehouse Point in Issaquah, Washington. Tree-filled and moss-covered, Treehouse Point offers two incredible treehouses for lodging by master treehouse builder Pete Nelson who, along with his wife Judy, host private events and overnight retreats. So natural and ethereal!
Mrs. Lightning, Cape Town Age and Occupation: 22, Journalist and Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer ScientistEngagement Date: December 27, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Hout Bay ManorAbout Me: I'm a young American living abroad in the beautiful city of Cape Town with a wonderful South African fiance and our crazy kitty Zeus. We're young, driven and madly in love. Together we're pursuing our wildest dreams including our biggest undertaking yet, a vintage retrospective wedding filled to the brim with DIY madness. I have an unnatural attraction to cake, a passion for blogging and a love of good design. While I might be an overly obsessive creative with too many ideas and nowhere to put them, Mr Lightning is my biggest fan and I can't wait to make my true love mine.
A while back we booked a photobooth to entertain guests and add that extra bit of carnival fun we were after. It wasn’t easy finding a vendor in South Africa, but after some browsing I finally found Photobooth Inc. We’ve arranged for it to be placed in the smaller hotel restaurant which is adjacent to Pure. The operator will set up at the start of dinner so that it will be operational when people start venturing out of their seats to greet other family members and friends, and of course, later during the dance portion of the evening.
Mrs. Meatball, HollywoodAge and Occupation: 30, Actor/Writer/Office MavenFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Actor/WriterEngagement Date: October 7, 2007Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: September 16, 2008Venue: Private Garden/The Bungalow ClubAbout Me: I love melty cheese and diet coke almost as much as I love my man. I'm from Chicago, he's from NYC, and we both miss public transit and great pizza. We have an adorable muppet dog called Paco. I'm part hippie with a healthy dash of hip hop superstar, have excessive empathy for animals, and have not one, but two bionic eyes (long story). We're broke and it ain't no joke. It can't stop us from planning the bold and whimsical wedding of our dreams, but we've had to get pretty creative to make it work, yo!
There are few things that make me feel more pampered then a nice meal out when I don’t have to worry about every penny going into it; and few gifts please me better than that of good food for free. Let’s be real - who doesn’t love eating out? But honestly, who wants to pay full price? Not this broke-ass!
When I lived in Chicago, my favorite “in the know” deal was that a local radio station’s website had a 1/2 off section where you could score restaurant gift certificates for, you guessed it, half price! They had some of the best grubs in Chi-town on there… we even went to the uber-romantic Signature Room on our 3rd anniversary for half-price dinner!
Now there are tons of resources for similar deals in dining and entertainment, all over the US - and I’m all over that like curry on tofu! Many local radio and TV affiliates have the same kind of resources - so poke around and see what you can find! Try Googling “half-price deals + your city”. I also find great results when I Google “your city: mediawebconnect.com” like these for Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
Another super-duper deal resource is Groupon.com - which lists a new amazing deal in each of its 17 cities (and growing) every day! The trick is that enough people have to want the deal for it to become available, so bookmark this site and make sure you give props to the best deals! But it doesn’t take many to get something available, and the savings are fantastic. Read more…
), vodka, and wine… the hotel security came up twice to ask them to quiet down! I 
